Canberra bikies: Kokomo’s bar brawler whose mate killed Comanchero president Pitasoni Ulavalu living in fear, court told

Comanchero bikies have been trying to track down a bar brawler who took part in the fight which culminated in the murder of the gang’s Canberra president.

A 26-year-old who made a “rather spontaneous and stupid decision” to take part in a fatal brawl with a group of Canberra bikies won’t serve any more jail time, but is living in fear for his life, a court has heard.

The man, who cannot be named, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday where Magistrate James Lawton handed him a 6 month jail sentence, suspended after time served.

He had previously pleaded guilty to affray.

Pitasoni Ulavalu was murdered in a bar brawl at Kokomo's Nightclub in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage.

The charge stemmed from an altercation with Comanchero bikies Zachary Robb and Shane Houghton at a packed Kokomo’s nightclub in Canberra last year, which culminated in another of the brawlers, Frederick Tuifua, stabbing Canberra Comanchero president Pitasoni Ulavalu in the neck.

Tuifua has pleaded guilty to murder, and is awaiting sentencing.

In court on Monday, Magistrate James Lawton said he despaired that so many bystanders filmed the brawl on their phones, rather than trying to break it up.

“I despair that we now live in a society where people get their phones and film out as a source of amusement,” he said.

“It is depressing to watch.”

A memorial to slain Canberra Comanchero president Pitasoni Ulavalu.

Pitasoni Ulavalu was stabbed and killed in an altercation at Kokomo's nightclub in Canberra. Picture: 10 News First

The man’s barrister, Kieran Ginges, said his client spent 64 days on remand, locked in his cell 23 hours a day for his own safety, and that the “quiet time” had given him a chance to think about his life.

Mr Ginges said his client wasn’t drunk on the night, didn’t bring a weapon and didn’t know Mr Ulavalu had been stabbed.

“He thought it was a bar fight,” he said.

Mr Lawton said anyone who decided to take part in public violence should expect to go to jail, but that only Tuifua was responsible for Mr Ulavalu’s murder.

Police at Kokomo’s nightclub the morning after Pitasoni Ulavalu was stabbed and killed in a bar fight. Picture Gary Ramage

He described the fight as immature, and “the sort of (thing) which plays out in children’s playgrounds”.

The court heard the man and his family have been threatened by Comanchero members, who have made repeated efforts to find out where he is living.

One of the man’s co-offenders, Max Budack, who was shot three times in a suspected reprisal attack, and remains behind bars, has also been charged with affray.

Mr Lawton said the jail time the 26-year-old had already served should be enough for him to change his ways.

Mr Lawton also ordered him to be of good behaviour for 12 months.